Major Trojan To Stamp Himself As Major Player
21 March, 2019
Harness
Prominent owner Glen Moore is confident New Zealand import Major Trojan can enhance his WA Derby credentials in tomorrow night’s Slater Gartrell Western Gateway (2536m) at Gloucester Park.
In his two Australian starts so far, Major Trojan has shown he has plenty of ability, with second placings to stablemate Eloquent Mach at Bunbury and Gloucester Park.
On both occasions, Major Trojan drew on the second line and wasn’t able to be put into the early speed battle.
However, Major Trojan has drawn barrier eight tomorrow night and Moore said he expected reinsman Gary Hall Jnr to settle outside likely leader Patrickthepiranha.
“I can’t fault his two runs,” Moore told RWWA Harness.
“The two runs have been conditioning runs for the Derby and we expect him to be more forward tomorrow night.
“The way the race is setup, I don’t think anything will want to be outside the leader.
“No horses in the race, other than Major Trojan and Franco Edward, would be capable of breezing then being in the finish.
“I anticipate we will be outside the leader.”
Major Trojan has received plenty of early support to beat short-priced favourite Patrickthepiranha and sits at $3.40, behind the Colin Brown-trained pacer at $1.50.
Moore said Patrickthepiranha was beatable, but deserved to be favourite for the $50,000 feature.
“The price reflects that the bookies think he will be tough to run down,” he said.
“He’s drawn one, looks the leader and he hasn’t been beaten when he’s led.
“Major Trojan will have to test him though, and given it’s over 2500, they won’t be able to go too hard all the way.”
Franco Edward is the only other runner in single figures with TABtouch at $6, while Eloquent Mach is a $15 chance.
Meanwhile, trainer Matt Scott is confident he has Always Arjay in peak condition for tomorrow night’s Slater Gartrell Free-For-All Pace (2130m).
Always Arjay has been one of the most improved pacers in WA over the past six months and produced an enormous performance in last Saturday’s Narrogin Cup when second to El Jacko.
Scott said he felt the race shaped as the perfect chance to record his second win in Free-For-All company.
“I’m really happy with him,” he told RWWA Harness.
“It was a career best run last week to have El Jacko, who was second in a WA Pacing Cup, sitting on his back, then almost run him down was super.
“He’s drawn behind the one, who I expect to lead…he will love it there.”
Scott said he expected Clarenden Hustler to bounce back to his best from barrier one in the Slater Gartrell Pace (1730m) and said it was a case of “trainer error” last week.
The Gloucester Park meeting gets underway at 5.52 tomorrow night.
Tim Walker
Image: Scott Hamilton